Every once in a while, it's nice to take a break from first person shooters and other action packed games that have the ability to make your mind and thumbs numb at the same time. You could just stop gaming altogether on your hiatus, or you could try your hand at something different. Well, they don't come any more different than Rockstar Games' LA Noire. Don't worry, this title is not all about collecting clues and solving cases, though, as you do get some action blended in to help quench your gaming thirst.

L.A. Noire takes place in, you guessed it, Los Angeles.  The year is 1947, World War II has ended, and Los Angeles is filled plenty of glamour and money, but also crime.  You take the role of Cole Phelps, a war veteran who aspires to climb through the ranks of the LAPD.  Phelps is your typical good guy cop that you sometimes see in movies, and he refuses to bend with all the corruption that's in the streets and even his own department.  You could say this is a bit of a twist from Rockstar, especially when you consider the role reversal from playing as a thug in the popular Grand Theft Auto series.  The game and Phelps' career begins as a beat cop with the LAPD, and he later progresses to being a detective working desks in the traffic, homicide, vice, and arson divisions.  Each desk brings a new partner for Phelps, and they are a mixture of both good and bad. 

L.A. Noire is innovative not only in its style and gameplay, but also thanks to its use of the new MotionScan technology.  MotionScan employs 32 high definition cameras that capture every detail of the actors' faces from different angles.  It really shows when playing the game, as the characters are extremely lifelike.  Every facial movement is transmitted.  Characters will wink, blink, smirk, show nervousness, anger, doubt, and more.  The quality of the technology and the way it is executed is essential, as these facial expressions are vital to the gameplay.  Just as if you were a detective in real life, you will be watching expressions closely for any clues that might help you solve the case.  You really need to use intuition throughout the game, which helps to bring a true sense of realism during the experience. 

Speaking of the characters, they look great, including their wardrobes.  Businessmen, mobsters, crooks, and your everyday Joe all have their own unique style.  If you watch a lot of movies or television, you might find that some characters look familiar.  The voice acting and dialogue are top notch and among the best you will find in a video game.  1940's Los Angeles and Hollywood are recreated to a T in L.A. Noire, so don't be surprised if you feel as if you've been transported back in time while playing.  Mansions, landmarks, streets, jazz, clubs, and more all look authentic.  A slick jazz soundtrack is injected at times too.  Keeping true to Rockstar Games' tradition, L.A. Noire is loaded with eye-catching vehicles that you can drive.  They differ in size and shape, but they all are highly detailed and nice to look at.  You'll need to get accustomed to the driving controls, as that is your only way to get around town.  Luckily, the cars are usually responsive and fun to maneuver.  Plus, you can always have your partner drive. 

Gameplay is split in L.A. Noire.  The most dominant and appealing gameplay comes from detective work.  This is where critical thinking and intuition come into play, and it's also what makes the game so appealing and different from most.  Your standard case begins when you respond to a call.  Once at the crime scene, you must look around for clues.  It could be something as obvious as a murder weapon, or something much more miniscule that you will have to keep in mind as you try to crack a case.  Since environments are so detailed, you could spend some time looking for clues, but it does add realism to the game and makes the setting much more interactive. 

As you progress up the ranks, you are later given the responsibilities of questioning witnesses and heading interrogations.  This is where things get interesting and where the MotionScan technology really kicks in.  As you meet up with witnesses, you throw various questions at them that are contained in your handy notebook.  When a witness answers, it's up to you to determine whether they are telling the truth or not.  You can select Truth, Doubt, or Lie during the process, and your selections will determine how the case plays out.  If you guess correctly that a person is telling the truth, you will keep speaking politely with them to get more information and clues.  If you guess wrong, they could close themselves off to you, leaving you out in the cold.  While this process is somewhat easy for early cases, it gets much more difficult as the game progresses.  If you get stumped, you can spend an intuition point to help you out.  You slowly gain these points during the game, and they help to give you a boost when necessary.  For instance, using a point can eliminate one of the Truth, Doubt, or Lie choices, or it can help highlight evidence at a crime scene.  In all, there are 21 main cases to solve, so you will have your hands full.

If being a sleuth picks at your brain too much, L.A. Noire has some side diversions as well.  Dubbed Street Crimes, these 40 side cases involve more traditional action sequences and gameplay.  Street Crimes are unassigned calls that you can respond to in order to stop a bank robbery, chase a suspect, and more.  Expect car chases, shootouts, and the typical Rockstar Games fare when you venture into this side of the game.  Of course, if you really want some stress-free fun, you always have the option of jumping in a car and cruising around Los Angeles to see the sights.

In a word, L.A. Noire is refreshing.  It does have its action elements, but the way in which the game introduces a new cerebral element to gaming is definitely unique and original.  The game looks superb, and you will be hard pressed to find better acting.  Some of the cases may feel repetitive, but the Street Crimes and open world feel provide solid distractions.  One negative to the game is its replay value.  After you complete all of the cases, is there that much motivation to play it again?  Probably not.  With that being said, L.A. Noire is definitely worthy of a purchase.  Once you complete the game, trade it in, or hang on to it.  Either way, you will at least be able to say that you tried something different.

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